Hundreds of members of Neocatechumenal communities across Perth – from the very young to the very old – joined together to celebrate the ordination to the Diaconate of Crispin Chanda Witika at St Gerard Majella Church in Westminster on August 14.
Bishop Donald Sproxton, who ordained Crispin, said the occasion was a great moment, not only for the Neocatechumenal Way but also for the Church in Perth.
Twenty-two priests, seminarians from St Charles’ Archdiocesan Seminary and Archbishop Emeritus Barry Hickey were among those who turned out for the occasion.
Also present to support him were Deacon Crispin’s fellow seminarians from Morley’s Redemptoris Mater Seminary, together with St Charles Rector Monsignor Kevin Long and Redemptoris Mater Rector Fr Michael Moore SM.
Toto and Rita Piccolo, a married couple who are the Sydney-based responsibles for the Neocatechumenal Way in Australia, were also present.
The evening, Bishop Sproxton said in his homily, was linked to two significant events in the life of the Archdiocese: it was the 19th anniversary of the establishment of the Redemporis Mater Seminary run under the auspices of the Neocatechumenal Way, but it was also 19 years since Archbishop Hickey had courageously re-opened St Charles as the Archdiocesan seminary; it had been the regional seminary until 1975 and had been running since 1942.
Both decisions had played an enormous role in the revitalisation of the priesthood for the Church in Perth and both bishops present for the evening were former students of St Charles.
Meanwhile, the occasion, the eve of the Feast of the Assumption, was significant, said Bishop Sproxton.
While non-Catholic Christians often have great difficulty with Catholic beliefs about Mary, Catholics firmly believe that the woman who is the Mother of God already enjoys the Resurrection.
The feast was therefore an occasion for everyone present that evening to return to Mary in their own thoughts, reflecting on the experiences in their own lives they hold in common with her.
The lessons Mary has to teach are vital, he said.
“One thing she has taught us is the ability to become the humble one, to ponder on our mission, to give herself completely to the call God had given her, not knowing what it might lead to,” he said.
So also, Deacon Crispin must follow in the footsteps of Mary’s example, he said.
Meanwhile, being able to reveal his own fragility and weakness through his ministry as a deacon would be a great encouragement to all the members of the Church, Bishop Sproxton said; people everywhere would be able to see that, like Deacon Crispin, their own failings and weaknesses can be overcome and healed by God’s grace.
The distinctive liturgy was celebrated according to the permission given by the Church to the Neocatechumenal Way.
Vibrant singing nearly lifted the roof on several occasions, while everyone present joined in the reception held later at St Gerard Majella school next door where Deacon Crispin ceremonially cut a cake and thanked all those who had supported him.
The Neocatechumenal Way is one of the fastest growing of what are usually described as the new movements in the Church.
Founded in the slums of Madrid in 1968 by Spanish artist Kiko Aguello, the Way is regarded as one manifestation among many of what is called the new evangelisation.
It seeks to assist Catholics already baptised but often not practising their faith to rediscover the nature and meaning of baptism.
Thousands of small Neocatechumenal communities exist in parish settings around the world.
Members follow an ongoing path of immersion in Scripture and the major themes of salvation history.